The British Lung Foundation and HSE’s current emphasis on “better education” for those dealing with asbestos is timely and “certainly relevant” as regards older healthcare buildings, a top asbestos consultant has said.
“Between around 1950 and about 1985 asbestos was used extensively in hospital construction, for instance in insulation panels, and for insulating pipes taking steam from a central boiler room to other buildings via underground walkway ducts,” he explains. “Asbestos in such areas can easily be disturbed.
“Generally, health estates managers are pretty well-informed about the dangers, but managing risks needs a task-based approach. For instance, although he may be working two feet away from asbestos, a tradesman with a three foot long spanner is likely to hit the material at some stage.”
While acknowledging the HSE’s guidance document, HSG227 (“A comprehensive guide to managing asbestos in premises”) and other, similar guidance publications are easy to read, Rob Blackburn says they should not be relied upon alone by those looking to assess the extent of danger posed in a job where tradespeople may be handling asbestos. Instead, health estate managers should visit the site and ascertain the risks for themselves.
